More Than 73K Illegal Ghost Cars Removed Across NYC – Patch

NEW YORK CITY — Mayor Eric Adams announced on Wednesday that more than 73,000 “ghost cars” have been seized since the start of his administration.

In 2024, the NYPD and the Department of Sanitation have removed more than 7,500 ghost cars and 27,000 illegal motorized vehicles from city streets.

About 3,200 cars have been impounded, while 700 people were arrested for alleged toll evasion this year, officials said.

“Ghost cars” — are cars that are virtually untraceable by traffic cameras and toll readers because of their forged or altered license plates.

“Our kids, families, and all New Yorkers must feel safe and be safe in our city, but ghost cars contribute to the feeling of disorder, and that’s why our administration has pumped the brakes on the use of these illegal vehicles,” said Adams. “We are not going to stand by while people break the law, defraud our city, and endanger the public.”

In September, Adams announced a new interagency task force in which 15 NYPD officers were assigned strictly to parked ghost car removal under the direction of DSNY. In the 12 weeks since the task force began regular operations, it removed 5,119 ghost cars.

In 2023, the NYPD confiscated 18,430 illegal and unregistered motorized scooters, bikes, and ATVs — the highest number in city history — representing a 128 percent increase from 2022.

Ghost plates and the vehicles that use them have long been a plague on the streets of New York City,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “But the days of motorists getting away with it are over. When you are caught driving or parking a ghost vehicle, you will be stopped and, when necessary, arrested. Your vehicle will also be impounded. I assure everyone that all of our interagency task forces are fully dedicated to this critical work of ensuring public safety.”